How much ketamine can the body handle at one infusion?

I am new to this group and so happy to find other people I can talk to. I am from a small town with no support. I travel over 1 hour to get to the hospital. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one going though this. I have been on ketamine for over 1 year for degenerative disc disease. My treatments consist of going in the hospital every 30 days for about 6 to 7 hours. I receive 75 mg of ketamine in a IV for over 6 hours. Pain relief last for about 4 weeks for the 1st 60 days and then it get to be shorter as time goes on until I have no pain relief. The Doctor then ups the dosage and I start all over again. I am afraid that I will use up the ketamine limit and I will have no pain relief.

Responses (6)

Welcome cherie1957. We are a good bunch here so feel free to talk about anything at all. Have you ever tried pain pills instead? Dilaudid and Oxycodone are pretty good but unfortunately can be addictive. I don't know a whole lot about Ketamine, what does it do for you? I am curious because I have had 5 back surgeries and 22 other surgeries as well as Fybromyalgia and am always in pain. Does it help alot with pain? Please advise. Thank you and hope I have helped too and again--- Welcome to our community.

I forgot to answer your ? about ketamine. It block the brain from receiving pain. It is a anesthesia, the same thing they give you during a operation. It does help me with my pain a lot. It is different for everybody. For me when it seems to keep me pain free ( I hope you understand this because it is hard to explain ) for 4 weeks when I get a new dosage.Here is a example: I was given 50 mg IV infusion over 6 hours - I would be pain free for about 4 weeks then when I went back in 30 days, I got 50 mg again and this would work for about the 1st 2 weeks and the pain would come back. The next month I go, I would still get 50 mg and I would be in pain all month. So the next time I go, my doctor would up the dosage to 65 mg and I am pain free again to start the cycle all over. I hope that helps. I am also on 2 Fentanyl 62 mcg which is a pain patch,every 48 hours and I can take 10 mg of Methadone every 6 - 8 hours. That combination of drugs right now works the best for me.

Thank you for explaining that to me. I may ask my doctor about that I am tired of being in pain all the time. I have had 5 fusions and also have fybromyalgia. Pain is not new to me. I also have a fractured L-3 vertabre because of a doctor messing with my meds I passed out and fractured the vertabre just above my fusions. You have helped alot. Thanks again

Me too! Since we use the same avatar, I feel like I know you already. I'm curious about the treatment you get. On top of torn, leaking black disc @ L-4 L-5, I shattered 2 vertebrates @ L-1 and L-2. Now I'm having problems with the hardware and the bad disc was re-injured about 2 months ago. Been on and off opiates for years. The longest I went without them was 6 months. That was due to a procedure (Radio Frequency Thermocoagulation) that really numbed the area for a long time. I would LOVE to find pain relief that lasted 4 weeks! As to your concern, even if you do build a tolerance for the ketamine, other meds will work for you. Once your body adjusts being off the ketamine for a while, it should become effective again. There are so many good medications to help with chronic pain. Don't worry. Ask your doctor, they will be able to keep you as pain free as possible. It sounds as if you have a very caring doctor. Good luck to you and welcome to the forum!Chris

I know what you're going through with back pain. I've had bad back pain for 2 years now. I've tried percocet for pain relief, it worked for about a year and after that it started being less effective for pain. My doctor even tried me on oxycontin which had the same results. I am now on hydromorph contin 18mg and cesamet. The cesamet works really well for my pain relief.

I just looked up to see what Cesamet and I was wondering do you put weight on with this? How long does it last for? Do they know what is wrong with your back and do you work? If you were going to rate you pain level before you took the Cesament what would it be and after you took Cesament what would it be? I am sorry for all the questions but I trying to figure out if it would be worth being it up to my doctor. Thank you so much for answering my question. Cherie

Before my doctor put me on Cesamet, he referred me to a pain clinic. The doctor there tried 2 epidural back shots. The first one lasted 2 weeks, the second one lasted 6 days. After that I went to see my doctor because my back was killing me. Before I was prescribed Cesamet, my back pain on a given day was 8 out of 10. After taking the Cesamet my back pain is 2 out of 10. I would definitely ask your doctor for information about Cesamet, it has worked great for me plus it isn't addictive compared to opiate medication.

The thing that is wrong with my back is a condition called Spinal Stenosis. Basically my lower spinal cord is being compressed by the spinal canal in my lower back. Unfortunately they cannot operate due to the fact that if the surgeons hand slips, I could end up paralyzed.

My doctor spoke to 2 surgeons and both said no way to doing the surgery. Right now due to my back pain issues I cannot work right now. I am on a disability pension through the Government of Canada. Thank god my wife understands what I am going through with my pain issues. My wife is the only reason I don't commit suicide. If I wasn't married I would most likely have killed myself.

I have had 2 spinal fusions, 1 in 2002 and another in 2004 . Both of them failed. Since then I was in consent pain 24 hours a day. They tried so many drugs on me and none of them worked. I had to give up a job I loved and I had to give up driving. All day long I was in bed crying, finally in 2005 my primary doctor put me on Ocycodone 100mg and other drugs for breakthrough pain. I was still in pain and laid in bed all day. After about a year I started thinking about ending it all. All that medicine took away my life. My primary doctor finally told me that she couldn't do anything else for me. I went home and made a plan, wrote some letters to my children. As I was sitting at the table the local paper was on the table and I still don't know why I picked it up because I haven't read it in a year but when I opened it up there was a full page ad on a pain clinic about a hour away. That was my 1st glimmer of hope in 4 years. He is a wonderful doctor along with his staff.

He works real hard at keeping me pain free, he saved my life. He weaned me off all my medication ( 14 different meds ) and we started over. It has taken a while to find the right meds that help with my pain. In 2009 I was one of 1st patients to be offer a chance to try the new ketamine infusion program at the hospital that he was starting up. Right now besides the 75 mg of ketamine every 30 days, I wear 2 Fentanyl patches, they total together 62 mcg. Also I take 10 mg of methadone for the breakthrough pain every 8 hours. There are some months where I can go any where from 4 weeks pain free to being in pain 24/7. I never know with the treatment. When I have no pain relief from the ketamine, my doctor will up the dosage and we start all over. I am not complaining, I know I am very lucky to be in this program. I guess I am scared, what if there comes a time and he can give me no more. In the past 2 years I have had 2 discs in my neck collapses and I can not hold my neck up without a brace. They want to do 2 fusions on my neck but my chances are not good because I have all ready had 2 failed fusions in my back. I have also started having a lot of pain in my legs and have had trouble walking. I have taken some falls, the last one I had 10 staples in my head. I feel like I should feel 100 years old instead of 53. I live with a wonderful man who takes really good care of me but I know he is getting tired of this. I met him just 2 months before my back pain start and he has been by my side the whole time. He retired 2 years ago and our dream was to travel but I can't even ride in a car for a hour without being in pain. He is finally taking 1 month vacation with his friend but I know he is worried about leaving me. I am so sorry about writing all this it's just I have no one to talk to. No one that understand what I go through everyday. Thank you for writing me. Cherie

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feedingif you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplementif you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substancesif you have a history of high or low blood pressure, heart disease, or fast heartbeatif you have a history of liver or kidney problemsif you or a family member has a history of mental or mood problems (eg, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia)if you or a family member has a history of alcohol or other substance abuse or dependenceif you have a history of marijuana useSome MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Cesamet . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Amphetamines, anticholinergics (eg, atropine, scopolamine), antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), cocaine, sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems (eg, fast heartbeat), or severe drowsiness may be increasedBarbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), buspirone, certain narcotic pain medicines (eg, morphine, codeine), lithium, muscle relaxants (eg, cyclobenzaprine), or phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) because the risk of severe drowsiness may be increasedDisulfiram, fluoxetine, or naltrexone because the risk of mental or mood changes may be increasedAntipyrine because the risk of its side effects may be increased by CesametTheophylline because its effectiveness may be decreased by CesametThis may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Cesamet may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Cesamet :

How to use Cesamet : Use Cesamet as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Cesamet by mouth with or without food.If you miss a dose of Cesamet , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Cesamet .

Important safety information:

Cesamet may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Cesamet with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks while you are taking Cesamet .Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Cesamet ; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.Cesamet may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use more often than prescribed without checking with your doctor.Cesamet may cause mental or mood changes (eg, feeling high, anxiety, confusion, depression, feeling disoriented, hallucinations). These effects may be more noticeable when you first start taking Cesamet or when your dose changes. Make sure you have a responsible adult who can help to care for you while you are taking Cesamet . This is especially important when you first start taking it or when your dose changes.The mental side effects of Cesamet may last for up to 72 hours after you stop taking Cesamet .Use Cesamet with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially mental changes or dizziness when sitting or standing up.Cesamet should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if Cesamet can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Cesamet while you are pregnant. It is not known if Cesamet is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Cesamet .Some people who use Cesamet for a long time may develop a need to continue taking it. People who take high doses are also at risk. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. If you stop taking Cesamet suddenly, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. These may include anxiety, distress, hiccups, loose stools, runny nose, sweating, and trouble sleeping.

Possible side effects of Cesamet :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.General information:If you have any questions about Cesamet , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.Cesamet is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Cesamet . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

For years I've been on 350 Mikes Fentanyl /72 hrs; 60mg oxy BID/75 oxy for breakthru pain. with minimal success. Cervical stabilizations and lumbar stabilizations. (3 of 7 surgeries in the last 10 years) Best temporary relief was with IV ket at .5mg/kg/.5hr. I feel so good I sometimes think a miracle has taken place. Other times I just have sex with my wife.

G,Day I just had my Gall Bladder out as i have a cronic pain problem they put me on a Ketamine infushion for pain relief it helped but when i came home i had Lost my Smoking urge ,now it,s been 2months since i had a smoke Great stuff at $20 for 30 smokes im saving money i can use else where has any one else had this happen Thank You all .?

hi.i have had nerve caughterisation twice now ,it worked the first time for six months .then had it done again and found no it hasnt worked.am on a number ov tablets inc morphine .diazepan.etc .constant pain all day and every day.now the pain managment team want to try ketamine on me.i have had all treatments done on me .all i want is to have a normal life.will ketamine work for me ? my pain out ov 0 to ten is ten.

I have been on Ketamine for almost 5 years. I take 125mgs over a 5 hour period. It works about 2 - 3 weeks, sometimes more sometimes less. Sometimes I am pain free and other times the pain is there but I can live with it. From what I have been told it works differently on everyone. I have my treatment every 4 weeks and there are some that have it every 6 or 8 weeks. Some months it works better than other months. All I can tell you is you will have to try it for a few months and see what you think. Even though it doesn't work all the time for me, I wouldn't stop it because some relief is better then none at all. Good luck and if you decide to try it, let me know how it is working for you.